Fish for dogs: benefits, risks and sensible portions
Fish can provide useful nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. Its value depends on the species, preparation, portion and the dog’s overall diet.
Bones for dogs – which bone and for what purpose?
Some time ago, I was asked to write about which bones are suitable for which dogs. The starting point for this article was, and still is, the approach of integrative veterinarian Dr Peter Dobias, who divides bones into three groups according to purpose: for eating, for cleaning teeth, and for...
Feeding a Puppy: Choosing Food, Portions and Supporting Healthy Growth
There are many recommendations about feeding a puppy. Some say that the food received from the breeder should not be changed. Others recommend immediately eliminating chicken, giving only one protein, or switching to raw food as soon as possible. But what does a puppy really need and how do you...
Antibiotics for Dogs: When Do They Help and What Should Owners Know?
Why antibiotics are not a black-and-white issue Antibiotics can save a dog's life. At the same time, they can cause adverse effects, alter the gut microbiome and select for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The right question is therefore not whether antibiotics are good or bad, but when they genuinely benefit an individual dog. Not...
Great plantain for dogs: what is actually worth knowing about this medicinal herb?
Great plantain probably grows in almost every garden and, honestly, most of the time we see it as an annoying weed. As a child, I had a completely different relationship with plantain: if I scraped my knee or something was bleeding, a plantain leaf went on top. At some point...
Dog diarrhea: what should you feed and when should you see a vet?
Diarrhea is one of those dog problems where the owner’s first question is very practical: what should I feed now? For years, the standard answer has been “chicken and rice.” Integrative veterinary medicine often suggests pumpkin, sweet potato or other squash instead, together with a well-tolerated lean protein. Both approaches...
Staphylococcus in dogs: when does a normal skin bacterium become a problem?
How to recognise staphylococcal infection in dogs, when antibiotics are needed and what Oscar's experience can teach us.
Anesthesia-free dental cleaning: does it really help?
I once spoke with a customer whose dog had undergone anesthesia-free dental cleaning about six months earlier. Later, several of that dog’s teeth had to be extracted. This does not prove that the anesthesia-free cleaning caused the problems, but it made me ask even more clearly what such a procedure...
Ear Infections and Dog Collars: Is There a Connection?
Until spring 2024, none of my dogs had ever had an ear infection. Not one. Then Oscar’s ears suddenly became red and he started shaking his head. We visited the veterinarian, and ear drops brought the problem under control in about a week. I did not consider an oral antibiotic...
Not every itch is an allergy: why dogs scratch and what to check
An itchy dog quickly raises the question: is it an allergy? Sometimes it is. But sometimes the cause is fleas, yeast, bacterial inflammation, dry or irritated skin, a painful paw, or several smaller problems at once. In this article I want to go beyond asking 'how can I stop the...